Justin Trudeau quickly turns his attention to governing

Trudeau may call Parliament into session quickly, aide says. Priorities include liaising with U.S. President Barack Obama, bringing in middle-class tax cut, preparing for UN climate-change summit.

Thestar.com
Oct. 20, 2015
By Alex Boutilier

In a whirlwind day of celebration and work, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau moved quickly to set his new government in motion as he spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama and announced that he will unveil his cabinet in two weeks.

Hours after welcoming the Liberals’ resounding election victory, the prime minister-designate affirmed to Obama that Canada is now committed to withdrawing its CF-18 fighters from the military force fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Trudeau said Obama understood the Liberal leader’s position on pulling Canada out of the coalition bombing missions.

“I committed that we would continue to engage in a responsible way ... Canada has a role to play in the fight against (the Islamic State),” Trudeau said in a press conference in Ottawa. “But he understands the commitments I’ve made around ending the combat mission.”

The Liberals support humanitarian aid for the region and using Canadian troops in a training role with local forces there.

In the call with Obama, which came Tuesday afternoon, the two leaders discussed a range of topics, including the coalition against the Islamic State, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the environment, Trudeau said.

In the course of a “warm” conversation, Obama teased the new Canadian leader about not having a grey hair, Trudeau recalled, adding: “He said that I will probably get some quite soon, just like him.”

The electoral triumph of the 43-year-old son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau gave Canada a moment in the global spotlight. Trudeau said he’d also received congratulatory calls from world leaders including the U.K.’s David Cameron, France’s François Hollande, Italy’s Matteo Renzi and Mexico’s Enrique Pena Nieto, who called after Monday night’s election.

Trudeau’s day started in Montreal where, fresh off a late night, he stopped in his riding of Papineau to greet constituents. From there, it was off to the nation’s capital.

Reflecting on his majority win at the polls, Trudeau said, “Canadians had an extraordinary desire for change.”

But the Liberal leader also made plain that he feels the weight that has now been placed on his shoulders.

“I’m also very, very aware of both the opportunity and the responsibility that we have to live up to, having put forward a strong vision for growth, for unity, for positivity in this country,” Trudeau said.

Beginning with the naming of a cabinet on Nov. 4, the Trudeau government will start looking at ways to deal with outstanding issues and deliver on the promises that won over Canadian voters.

These include setting up a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, holding consultations on assisted suicide law, moving quickly on a middle-class tax cut and working with the provinces to tackle global warming.

Trudeau is committed to attending a key gathering of world leaders to discuss climate change in Paris at the end of November. The Liberal leader said he spoke with a number of premiers on Tuesday and there was interest on their part of ensuring that Canada “was a positive actor and doing our share to reduce global emissions.”

As for cabinet, Trudeau reiterated his commitment that it would have an equal number of men and women. He said there was a desire by Canadians to have a “stronger and smaller cabinet than we have had in years past.” His ministers would be chosen on their ability to be decision-makers, he added.

A senior official said Trudeau wants to recall Parliament “as quickly as possible” after the cabinet swearing-in. Peter Harder, a former senior government official, has been enlisted by the Liberals to help manage the transition to a new government.

But several high-level international summits are scheduled for later this fall, adding to Trudeau’s already packed schedule as he looks to bring back Parliament.

These November meetings include the G20 summit in Turkey, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Manila and a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Malta.

Trudeau committed to attend the climate discussions but said his attendance at the other summits would have to be balanced against duties at home.

In his phone call with Obama, the two leaders talked about their children and the U.S. president told Trudeau to enjoy time with his children “because they grow up so quickly, especially during a political mandate.”